Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Phoebe knew that her mouth was open and that she was gaping at him. “Those are just a few things off the top of your head? You mean there’s more?”
“Yes, there will definitely be more. I can have them ready for you by tomorrow.”
“I might need you to write them down,” she told him. “Because I don’t think I can remember all of that. Let alone more.”
“I can do that. I’ll get you a notebook and write them in it.”
Awesome. Uh-huh. “You’re very organised, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Yes. I am.”
“Does it annoy you when other people aren’t organised?”
“Hmm. When I work with them, yes. In my social life, sometimes. It depends. If you need help with organisation, I am happy to help.”
“Maybe,” she said. That might be a recipe for disaster.
“Come on, you need to get to bed. Do you trust me to help put you to bed?”
“I, um, yes?”
“You don’t feel very sure.”
“I am,” she said hastily. “I’m just not sure what that means.”
“Let me show you?” he asked.
She took a deep breath and nodded. Barren unlocked the door and then opened it for her. She walked past him, feeling like she was in a daze. Was this really happening? Did Barren really want to be her… her boyfriend?
It sounded crazy. And perfect. She turned to him after he shut the door behind them. “You want to be my boyfriend?”
“Yes, sweetheart. Was I not clear?”
“No, yes, I was just making sure that I wasn’t dreaming.” She lightly slapped her cheeks with both hands.
“Hey, what are you doing?” He took hold of her hands, giving her a concerned look.
“Just making sure that I definitely wasn’t dreaming. Maybe I should pinch myself to be sure.”
“No slapping yourself. No pinching yourself. No hurting yourself. Understand me?”
“I wasn’t hurting myself; I was just making sure I was awake,” she protested.
“You are awake and if you’re ever unsure, ask me. I will prove to you that you’re awake. You don’t have to resort to hurting yourself.”
“How will you prove that?” She gave him a suspicious look.
“Hmm, I can think of a couple of ways. Maybe like this.” Barren drew her toward him and then, to her surprise, he cupped her cheeks and lowered his lips to hers.
Oh. Wow. The man could kiss.
Phoebe had never melted into a kiss like this. In fact, she’d never really been into kissing before. It had always been okay, but never life-changing like she’d read in books. But now she got it. She tried to kiss him back, but he took charge, and she was happy to let him lead.
When he drew back, she was smiling dreamily, gazing up at him in wonder.
“Wow.”
His eyebrows rose. “Wow?”
“Yeah, you can kiss. I’ve never really been interested in kissing until just this minute.”
“Just this minute, huh? Good to know that I’m doing a good job.”
“Not good,” she told him. “Spectacular, amazing, wonderful!”
He grinned. “You’re good for me, sweetheart.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Now, do you have some pajamas?” he asked, looking around. “I can see you haven’t unpacked yet.”
She glanced around with a wince at the clothes strewn on the floor and coming out of her suitcase.
“I’m not really an unpacker.”
He just gave her a look. “Where are your pajamas?”
“Wellll…” She glanced around as though expecting them to jump out at her. That would be helpful. “Oh! Here they are!” She picked her pajamas. They were white silk with red hearts on them. The pants were long and wide while the top was a camisole.
“Adorable,” he told her.
She shivered as his heated gaze ran over her. “I, um, I’ll just… um…”
“Go get changed and brush your teeth, little girl,” he told her huskily. “Before I lose hold of my control.”
She gulped. Uh-huh. Sure. Only… maybe she wanted him to lose hold of his control?
“Go, little girl. Now.” The firmness in his tone had her turning away without argument.
Barren forced himself to stay where he was and take some deep breaths.
You cannot throw her on the bed and fuck her. That isn’t getting to know her. No matter how much you might want her.
To keep himself occupied, so he didn’t walk into that bathroom and join her in the shower, he started folding her clothes and putting them into drawers and the closet.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
Turning, he saw her standing in the bathroom door, chewing on her thumbnail. Her wet hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
“Hey, don’t do that.” He stepped forward and drew her thumb out of her mouth. “There’s nothing wrong.”
“I’m messy.”
She looked so vulnerable dressed in her pajamas with her wet hair slicked back. “Do you hear me complaining? There’s something you should know about me. I actually like cleaning and organising and folding laundry.”
“That’s so weird,” she told him.
He grinned. “Maybe. It’s an affliction, for sure. And the only cure is more tidying and cleaning. So you’re going to have to indulge me, even though I maybe overstepped by touching all of your stuff without asking.”